Kaurna miyurna,
Kaurna yarta
tampinthi
(Recognising Kaurna people
and Kaurna land)
The spirit still lives
amongst the steel,
concrete, roads
and lawns. Learn
about the past so
that we can grasp
the future
ADELAIDE
KAURNA
WALKING TRAIL
Karrawirra pari (River Torrens)
& Adelaide city area
This is based on Kaurna miyurna, Kaurna
yarta tampinthi Walking Trail Guide, 3rd edition.
1
Kaurna miyurna, Kaurna yarta tampinthi
(Recognising Kaurna people and Kaurna land)
King William Road bridge underpass
This Kaurna Reconciliation sculpture, dedicated to Kaurna in
2002, represents some of the Kaurna story, giving insight to
Kaurna culture and history. It was designed in consultation
with Kaurna community by Kaurna artist Eileen Karpany
and Aboriginal artist Darren Siwes with Tony Rosella and
sculpted by Donato Rosella. The elements that make up the
sculpture are as follows.
Many elements and themes are combined and draw on the
environmental history of this location and reminds us that this
was a place for Kaurna to hunt and gather their daily food. On
the tiles are depicted European fish such as carp (which have
supplanted most of the now-vanished endemic fish species).
Also depicted are other animals and creatures that once lived
around this part of the Torrens before it was dammed. Kaurna
remember Gudgeon fish for example, that are no longer in
the river but were a staple of their diet.
Tarnta Kanya (Red Kangaroo Rock)
Tarnta Kanya, the natural rock formation relating to the Red
Kangaroo Dreaming of the Adelaide area, may well have
been located on, or near, the Adelaide Festival Centre.
This was the place where Tarnta, the male Red Kangaroo
totemic ancestor introduced the men’s initiation ceremony.
Ngangkiparingga (Onkaparinga), women’s river
Symbolised here within the oval shape of a woman’s large
dish or bowl, is a form representing the flowing creeks and
rivers as well as the inner curves of shellfish found in the
fresh and salt water of Ngangkiparingga and other estuaries
in Kaurna country.
Tjilbruke, the Ibis Man
The spiritual shape symbolises the fresh water springs and
journey of Tjilbruke, the Ibis Man, a Kaurna creator ancestor.
Tjilbruke helped create the Kaurna landscape while grieving
for his nephew, Kulultuwi, who was killed after he broke a
kuinyunta (taboo) forbidding him to eat kardi (emu).
The Dreaming of Ngarnu, the body of the giant from the east,
is depicted in this sandstone sculpture. From the Adelaide
parklands can be seen his two ears (Mount Lofty and Mount
Bonython), called Yuridla – two ears (now known as Uraidla).
Kaurna text contributed by
Kauwanu Lewis Yerloburka O’Brien
Who are the Kaurna?
Kaurna (pronounced ‘Gar-na’) people are the traditional
owners and custodians of the Adelaide Plains. Kaurna country
stretches from Cape Jervis in the south, Crystal Brook in
the north, Mount Lofty Ranges to the east and St Vincent
Gulf in the west. Neighbouring Aboriginal groups include the
Ngadjuri, Nukunu, Narungga, Peramangk and Ramindjeri.
Pronunciation
A pronunciation guide for Kaurna language can be found
in the Kaurna miyurna, Kaurna yarta tampinthi Walking
Trail Guide, 3rd edition.
The Graham F Smith Peace Foundation wishes to acknowledge
the Kaurna people, the original custodians of the Adelaide
Plains, and the land on which this walking trail is situated.
‘You are standing on Kaurna Land’ tiled mural
Adelaide Festival Centre
Yuridla, Dreaming story of the Mount Lofty Ranges
Yertarra padnima taingiwiltanendadlu
(Yartarra padnima taingiwiltarninth’adlu)
‘When we walk the land,
we become strong’
3
Kaurna spiritual beliefs
Elements of this artwork symbolise the great sky river
Wardlipari (lit. ‘hut river’, commonly known as Milky Way)
and the Yurdakauwi (lagoon in the dark parts of Wardlipari,
belonging to the giant serpent Yurda). Wardlipari was so
named because Kaurna miyurna believe the bright stars on
the edge to be campfires of ancestors along the edge of
the river in the skyworld. The skyworld reflects life on earth.
Life-sustaining fresh water is central to meeting places on
earth and spiritually in the skyworld – past, present and
in the future. For some people today, the water represents
tears linked to the Reconciliation process. The Kaurna
shield ( Wakalti) is a central element.
2
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
War Memorial
South East corner of Victoria Drive and King William Road
(Torrens Parade Ground)
This War Memorial sculpture and pavement tiles depict a
World War I male tulya (soldier) and a World War II female
kuku kangkalangkala (nurse). They are standing above a
coolamon, which is a traditional Indigenous holding vessel,
which holds the ritual fire to honour those who served. The
two figures are surrounded by the Rainbow Serpent, an
Indigenous Creation figure and a boulder that intersects the
memorial wall. This is a National Indigenous memorial and
includes Kaurna descendants like WW2Corporal Timothy
Hughes, whose citation can be read here.
4
1
Talking our way home
Torrens riverbank
The artwork is a historical and personal reflection on
migration, dispossession and the role that language plays
in creating a sense of identity and belonging. The inscribed
glass and steel ‘floating paper boats’, draw on the handwritten letters of 19th and 20th century immigrants, and the
experiences of the artist Shaun Kirby (a child migrant of the
1960s). The shore-based element contains text developed
in collaboration with the Kaurna language committee, Kaurna
Warra Pintyanthi. Ngaiera karralika kauwingga taikutti
yerra kumanendi (Nayirda karralika kauwingka taikuthi yara
kumarninthi) ‘The sky and the outer world are connected in
the waters and the two become one.’
14
10
2
5
Cultural performance (palti) site
Adelaide Oval/Torrens Lake
Look across the river to see the Adelaide Oval stadium.
Two big cultural performances (called palti in Kaurna
language, which included traditional dance and song)
were arranged by the SA Cricket Association in May 1885,
attracting 25,000 spectators. The Aboriginal performers
were from Point McLeay and Point Pearce Missions.
8
6
Headstone sculpture acknowledging
Kaurna Elder Doris Graham
West of Festival Centre Ampitheatre
Kaurna Elder Doris May Graham (1912–2004) worked
tirelessly for Reconciliation. On the headstone are Doris’s
words of wisdom: ‘Trust was the start of it, Joy was part of it,
Love is the heart of it.’
7
Pingku (Pinky Flat)
8
17
Northern riverbank east of Morphett Street Bridge
Pinky Flat, appearing to be grassy islands on the northern
bank of the Torrens Lake, has a connection with pingku also
known as the bilby, which is similar in size to a rabbit. It was
a traditional Aboriginal food and also eaten by early European
settlers when there was a shortage of sheep and cattle meat.
There would once have been about 200 indigenous plant
species within 10 minutes walk of this area. The Pinky Flat
and Adelaide Oval areas were the locations of Aboriginal
camps until the early 1900s.
11
Kudlyu (Black Swan) – Karra (Red gum) –
Karrawirra pari (River Torrens) – a river, lake
or series of ponds?
10
West of carpark opposite golf links’ kiosk off
War Memorial Drive
Southern riverbank west of Morphett Street Bridge
In April 1837 Kaurna miyurna were moved to Pirltawardli
(brush tailed possum home) or as called by the government,
the ‘Native Location’. By 1838, a dozen huts were built
to accommodate Kaurna miyurna as well as a garden,
schoolhouse, storehouse and a residence for the interpreter.
Samuel Klose recorded that Kaurna miyurna in Adelaide
were referred to as Witu Miyurna (reed people) and, after
Pirltawardli was established, they were called the Tarralyi
Miyurna (stockade people). In 1839, Pardutiya Wangutya
and Bakkabarti Yerraitya were found guilty of murdering
shepherds, Thompson and Duffel, and hanged at Tininyawardli
across the road to the north, now part of the golf course.
The kudlyu (black swan) was introduced to the area in
the 1880s when the lake was made. Swans lay their eggs
amongst the reeds and bulrushes. Note the Eucalyptus tree
with a huge scar to the north of the path. The thickening of
the outer bark shows how trees repair themselves when bark
is cut away to make shields, bowls or canoes. Bulrushes
have long flat leaves (suitable for weaving) and brown seed
heads, whereas reeds are hollow, less flexible (not suitable
for weaving) and have pale wispy seek heads. In some
areas, reeds were tied in bundles for making rafts. The weir,
which formed the River Torrens into a series of lakes and
ponds, was built in 1881, before which the river would have
flooded after heavy rain and at other times would have dried
to a series of ponds. Kaurna youths met to swim here in
the 1960s and 70s.
11
Intercontinetal Hotel Forecourt, North Terrace
Old Adelaide Gaol
Installed in 1995, Yerrakartarta (today spelled Yarakartarta)
(meaning ‘at random’) was designed by Kookatha artist,
Milika – Darryl Pfitzner, in consultation with Kaurna miyurna
including Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri artist, Muriel Mumtherang
van der Byl. Muriel’s silk paintings of the stories of Kaurna
Dreaming ancestor Tjilbruke and Ngarrindjeri Dreaming
ancestor Ngurunderi, are translated here into ceramic tile
murals. Tjilbruke created the fresh water springs along the
coast with his tears of grief, following his nephew’s death.
Ngurunderi created the River Murray and cut up Pondi, the
Murray Cod, to create all the different (fresh-water fish).
i
3
4
e
T
2
T
6
Festival 1
Intercontinental Centre
Hotel
11
12
Yarakartarta
Govt
House
12
0
250
m
Wirrarninthi
West Terrace
Tampawardli
Waymouth
Franklin
Grote
Gouger
Light
Square
Wauwi
Morphett Street
Currie
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
Street
King William Street
Namungga
Hindley
P lane Tree
17
Tarntanyangga
(Victoria
Square)
T
Tandanya (Tarntanya)
Corner of Grenfell Street and East Terrace
It is believed that part of the Old Parliament House building,
like the Holy Trinity Church, was built out of cream coloured
stone quarried nearby from the sacred Tarnta Kanya (male
Kangaroo) rock. At Parliament House, the South Australian
Parliament, in a bipartisan gesture on 28 May 1997, expressed
its deep and sincere regret for the forced separation of some
Aboriginal children from their families and homes, which
occurred prior to 1964. Parliament apologised to Aboriginal
people for these past actions and reaffirmed its support for
Reconciliation between all Australians. At Government House,
Governor Gawler made a practice of having his speeches
translated into Kaurna language. In a speech published in
the Register on 27 October 1838, he said: ‘Black men –
We wish to make you happy. But you cannot be happy unless
you imitate good white men. Build huts, wear clothes, work
and be useful. Above all things you cannot be happy unless
you love GOD who made heaven and earth and men and all
things. Love white man. Love other tribes of black men. Do
not quarrel together. Tell other tribes to love white men, and
to build good huts and wear clothes. Learn to speak English.’
Tandanya is named in recognition of Tarnta Kanya, (the male
Red Kangaroo Dreaming). Exhibitions change regularly and
sometimes include works by Kaurna artists.
13
Migration Museum
Eastern side of Kintore Avenue
Outside the foyer of the Migration Museum there is a plaque
on the wall that recognises the location of what was the new
Native School Establishment, which operated after 1845
when the school at Pirltawardli closed. It was closed in 1852.
While the School was operating, Aboriginal students from
the school would be taken to the Holy Trinity Church on
North Terrace for religious services.
17
Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square)
Intersection of King William, Grote and Wakefield Streets
The main camp of the Tarntanya (Red Kangaroo Dreaming)
people, was in or near Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square).
The site where the General Post Office is located was
called Ngamatyi. Kaurna woman Elder, Ivaritji (Iparrityi),
said the square has always been an important meeting
place for Aboriginal people. The Aboriginal flag, designed
by Aboriginal man, Harold Thomas, was first flown at
Tarntanyangga (Victoria Square) on 12 July 1971 during
National Aboriginal and Islander Day. It was adopted
nationally in 1972 after being flown at the Tent Embassy in
Canberra, ACT, and proclaimed as a ‘Flag of Australia’ on
14 July 1995 by the Governor-General of Australia, William
Hayden. The colours on the Aboriginal flag symbolise
Aboriginal people (black top half), the earth and a spiritual
relationship with the land (red bottom half) and the sun
(yellow circle in the middle).
Thank you for participating in this walk. Please share your
knowledge with friends, neighbours and colleagues and
encourage them to participate and work towards Reconciliation.
South Australian Museum
Vic
to r i
13
a
D rive
T
Migration
Museum
Rundle Mall
Grenfell
Pirie
Flinders
Wakefield
Angas
Kainka
Wirra
15
T
Adelaide
Botanic
Gardens
T
SA 14
Museum
North Terrace
Art
T Gallery
of SA
North Terrace
Rundle
Park
Kadlitpina
Rundle Road
Rundle Street
Hindmarsh
Square
Mukata
North Terrace
D rive
Street
16
Tandanya
Street
Rymill
Park
Murlawirrapurka
East
Adelaide
Gaol
7
or
riv
Terrace
8
M
Pinky War
Flat
em
D
al
Street
Street
Street
Hutt Street
River
Torrens
Karrrawirra
pari
5
Pulteney Street
ad
Woodland
16
North Terrace between Station Road and Kintore Avenue
14
ad
9
i ve
Old Parliament House – Parliament House –
Government House
Botanic Park
e Ro
ad
Ro
T
Dr
Adelaide
Oval
King William Road
10
ial
Adelaide
Zoo
Karra
Wirra
From
G
l
ao
or
Pirltawardli
Bonython
Park
Tulya
Wardli
em
Footbrid g e
Native
Forest
M
Morphett Street Bridge Montefiore Ro
T
Tarntanya
Wama
10
Pulteney Street
Tininyawardli
Frome Street
The gaol was opened in 1841 and closed in 1988 and is
now an historical landmark. When Governor Hindmarsh
proclaimed the Colony of South Australia at Glenelg on
28 December 1836, he stated his ‘…firm determination
to punish with exemplary severity, all acts of violence or
injustice which may in any manner be practised or attempted
against the natives…’ Few colonists were punished for their
cruelty, but if Aboriginal people took sheep or cattle, they
were shot, poisoned or gaoled.
W
ar
Yarakartarta (Yerrakartarta)
Kintore Avenue
9
12
Pirltawardli and Tininyawardli
Gawler Place
8
Only 30 or so surviving traditional objects including Kaurna
shield ( Wakalti), are displayed in the Kaurna history and culture
section. The artefacts with paintings by George French Angas
and a photograph of Ivaritji (Iparrityi), Kaurna Elder, taken
in 1928 by Norman Tindale, ethnologist at the SA Museum
reveal insights about Kaurna social and cultural life. Between
the South Australian Museum and Kainka Wirra (the lake in
the Botanic Gardens), there are bronze plaques on display
along North Terrace. Some of these plaques commemorate
Aboriginal people (including Kaurna Elder Gladys Elphick)
and those who supported Aboriginal and Kaurna causes,
such as George Fife Angas and Samuel Thomas Gill.
15
Kainka Wirra
Lake in Botanic Gardens and Botanic Park off North Terrace
Kaurna Elder, Ityamai-itpina (named King Rodney by
Europeans in the 1830s) was a significant contributor to
Reconciliation in colonial times, had a special affinity with
the waterhole, which is now the main lake in the Botanic
Gardens. His daughter Ivaritji (Iparrityi) provided valuable
information about Kaurna history. Botanic Park and Gardens
were previously open parkland and the site of large Aboriginal
camps from the time that Pirltawardli (the Native Location)
was closed in 1845 until the early 1870s when the Botanic
Gardens and Botanic Park were established.
The Graham F Smith
Peace Foundation Inc.
Working for Peace
Through the Arts
This trail was produced by The Graham F Smith Peace
Foundation www.artspeacefoundation.org with the help
of a grant kindly provided by the Adelaide City Council.
For more information and to obtain Kaurna miyurna,
Kaurna yarta tampinthi Walking Trail Guide, 3rd edition
email [email protected]
Other contributors to this project include Leonie Ebert
(The Graham F Smith Peace Foundation) Maggie
Fletcher (Adelaide Festival Centre), Alison Fort (Graphic
Designer), Dr Rob Amery (Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi),
David Belperio (iPiXELmedia) and Kym Liebig (Copyriot).
© Copyright held collaboratively by Kaurna Warra Pintyanthi
and The Graham F Smith Peace Foundation Inc.